Closure for dispensing containers



May 14, 1935. w. c. NENSTIIEHL I 2,

CLOSURE FOR DISPENSING CONTAINERS Filed July 3, 1934 1. 1 of the rear wall of Patented May 14, 1935' PAT E cnosrmn roanrsrsnsma com. a

William O. Nenstiehl, tit...

n Dela Application July 3, 1934, Serial Not 733.64% 7 Claims. (CL 221-60) This invention relates to improvements in closures for dispensing containers, and while applicable in principle to many different types of containers has an application of particular value to containers of the collapsible tube type such as commonly employed for dispensing tooth paste, shaving creams and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a closure which shall be characterized by simplicity of form and manufacture and which shall provide. an effective seal for the container when closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure that may be readily manipulated to the open and closed positions and which will automatically retain itself in both of said positions of adjustment. v

The invention further resides in certain structural details and arrangements hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawin in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a container equipped with a closure made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the upper end of the container with the closure element removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating details of the closure device and showing the closure in the closed position;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to that of Fig.

3 but showing the closure in the open positionp Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one of the elements of the closure device, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary side elevational views illustrating modifications within the scope of the invention.

In accordance with my invention and with reference to the drawing, the container I, in the form in the present instance of a collapsible tube, is provided at the top with a substantially wedge-shaped extension 2, which in the present instance constitutes an integral part of'the tube structure. The discharge port 3 of the container passes upwardly through this extension 2 and terminates in the inclined rear face 4 of the extension. The lower portion of the inclined face 4 of the extension 2. is offset rearwardly and forms the inner wall of a slot 5, the outer wall of which is formed by 9. lug 6 projecting from the top of the container I and'formed in the present instance integrally with the latter. The slot 5 receives the lower extended portion thereof ispa cork or a closure element 8, which element conforms in general shape with the extension 2. t

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the extension I of the closure element 8 is beaded at its lower edge, and following insertion of the extension in the slot 5, the upper end of the lug 8, which is formed originally as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 is forced inwardly over the said bead to thereby clinch the extension and anchor the closure element 8 securely to the container. The element 8 is so proportioned that in assembly and in a normal position the side and top ,walls thereof engage the corresponding opposed surfaces of the extension 2, as illustrated in Figs.

1 and 3.

Secured by suitable means to the inside of the closure element 8 against the rear wall other gasket 9 arranged to bear against the face 4 of-the extension 2' to seal the discharge opening 3, and. the closure element 8 has'in its top surface a port Ill which is normally closed by engagement of the upper wall of the closure'element with the top of the extension 2, as shown in Fig. 3. Preferably the closure element 8 or the extension 1 thereof is made of resilient metal, permitting adjustmentof the closure element by flexure from the normal position as shown in Fig. 3 to a position such as shown in Fig. 4, wherein the discharge port 3 of the container as well as the port ill of the closure element are uncovered to permit passage of the contents ofthe container to and through the port in. It will be apparent, however, that the closure element may be otherwise constituted to permit adjustment of the closure element between the open and closed positions. Where the closure is made of resilient metal, there will be a natural tendency for the closure element to assume and to remain in the closed position, which is desirable.

In the illustrated embodiment of myinvention, sufllcient clearance is provided between the front wall of the closure element 8' and the. corresponding wall of the extension 2 to permit the mounting within this forward part of, the closure element of a leaf spring II, the upper rounded end of which bears against the forward face of the extension 2. This face of the extension is provided with recesses l2'and l3 which are engaged by the upper end of the spring H as shown in Figs. 3 and-i, to releasably retain the closure element in the closed and open positions respectively. Inthe' present instance, the spring I! is held between the inner surface of the front wall of the closure element and an integral turned-up lug or cleat M.

It will be apparent from the above that by simple pressure exerted on the closure element 8 the latter may be adjusted into the closed and open positions, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, and that the closure element will be releasably retained in either of these positions by action of the spring H engaging the notches l2 and I3 in the extension 2. When in the closed position, a double seal is effected through the medium first of the gasket 9 which overlies the discharge port 3 of the container, and secondly by-engagement of the top wall of the closure element 8 with the end surface of the extension 2, which in eifect seals the port l0. When adjusted to the open position as shown in Fig. 4, free passage of the contents of the container is afforded through the port 3 to the port). It will be'noted that in both the open and closed positions of the closure element the forward wall thereof engages the upper front corner of the extension 2 over an extended surface which conflnes the contents of the con-.

a preferred means for attaching the closure element to the container, it will be apparent that other means may be employed without departure from the invention, such for example as those shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. 6, an extension l6 of the closure element is bent into cylindrical form to constitute, in efiect a pivot for the closure element on the container. This cylindrical extension I6 is clinched loosely in the container in a manner corresponding to that described above. In Fig. 7, the closure element is formed with lugs I! which in assembly lie at opposite ends of a boss l8 on the top of the container, and a pin I! passed through the lugs l1 and a boss I! secures the closure element to the container and forms a journal upon which the closure element may-be adjusted to the closed and open positions.

There may be further modification without departure'from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. The combination with a container having a ported projecting portion constituting a discharge nozzle, of a closure element in the form of a hood secured to said container and embracing said nozzle, said hood being adjustable between alternative positions in one of which positions one side of said hood overlies and seals the discharge port of said container and in the other of which positions the hood uncovers said port for discharge of the contents of the container, said hood in the last-named position of adjustment forming with said nozzle a substantially closed chamber embracing the discharge port and having an opening arranged for communication with said chamber to permit escape of the contents of said container through the chamber. h

2. The combination with a container having a ported projection constituting a discharge nozzle, of a. closure element in the form of a hood ach'ustably secured to the container and embracing said nozzle, said hood in .one position of adjustment sealing said discharge port and in another position of adjustment forming with said nozzle a substantially closed chamber with which the discharge port communicates, and

' said hood having a port arranged .to communicate with said chamber to permit discharge of the contents of the container.

3. The combination with a container having a ported projection constituting a discharge nozzle, of a closure element in the form of a hood adjustably secured to the container and embracing said nozzle, said hood in one position of adjustment sealing said discharge port and in another position of adjustment forming. with said nozzle a substantially closed chamber with which the discharge port communicates, said hood having a port arranged to communicate with said chamber to permit discharge of the contentsof the container through the chamber, and means for releasably retaining, the said hood in the alternative positions'of adjustment.

4. The combination with a container having a ported projection constituting a discharge nozzle, of a closure element in the form of a hood adjustably secured to the container and embracing said nozzle, said hood in one position of adjustmentsealing said discharge port and in another position ofadjustment forming with said nozzle a substantially closed chamber with which the discharge port communicates, and said hood having a port arranged to communicate with said chamber to' permit discharge of the contents of the container, and means for releasably retaining the said hood in the alternative positions of adjustment, said meanscomprising a resilient element carried by the hood, and recesses in said nozzle arranged for engagement with said resilient element.

5. The combination with a container having a ported projection constituting a discharge nozzle, of a closure element in the form of a hood secured to said container and adjustable on the latter, two of the opposite sides and the top surface being continuously-engaged by the corresponding walls of said hood, and another side wall of said hood being adapted in one position of adjustment of the hood on the container to engage that wall of the nozzle in which the discharge port terminates to thereby seal the port, and saidwall in another position of adjustment of said hood uncovering said port and forming with the side and top walls of said hood and the ported face of said nozzle a substantially closed chamber with which said discharge port communicates, said hood having a port arranged for communication with said chamber to permit discharge through the latter of the contents of said container.

6. The combination with a container having a substantially wedge-shaped projection constituting a discharge nozzle, said projection having a port terminating in one inclined side of said nozzle, of a closure element in the form of a hood secured to said container and having a surface adapted to engage the ported surface of said nozzle to thereby seal the discharge port, resilient means tending to retain the said hood in the port-sealing position, and said hood being adjustable to an alternative. position uncovering said port, the side and top walls of said hood closely embracing the corresponding surfaces of the nozzle and thereby forming with the latter when the hood is adjusted to the open port position a substantially closed chamber communicating with said discharge port, and said hood having a port arrangedfor communication with said chamber to permit discharge of the contents of said container.

7. The combination with a container having charge port, said hood being adjustable to a position uncovering said discharge port and in the said adjusted position forming with said projection a substantially closed chamber with which said discharge port communicates, and said hood having in the top surface thereof a port which in the said adjusted position of said hood cornmunicates with said chamber to permit discharge of the contents of said container.

WILLIAM C. NENSTIEHL. 

